Tuition Information
Tuition & Fees for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade
WHAA publishes one tuition figure per grade band for Kindergarten through 8th grade. For the 2026–27 school year that figure matches the amount Step Up For Students makes available for an in-class student in Polk County — and scholarship funds may be used toward WHAA tuition and fees. Scholarship amounts are set each year by the State of Florida, not by the school, so the figures below apply to 2026–27.
- K–3 tuition: $8,336
- 4–8 tuition: $7,752
- 2026–27 Step Up allotment · Polk County
- No household income limit
Tuition and fees at a glance
One published rate per grade band, Kindergarten through 8th grade, shown alongside the 2026–27 Step Up For Students allotment for a Polk County resident. Step Up scholarship funds may be applied toward these tuition and fee amounts.
Kindergarten – Grade 3
$8,336Per student, per school year. Step Up For Students scholarship funds may be applied toward this amount.
Grade 4 – Grade 8
$7,752Per student, per school year. Step Up For Students scholarship funds may be applied toward this amount.
| Grade band | WHAA tuition & fees (2026–27) |
Step Up For Students allotment (Polk County, 2026–27) |
How scholarship funds may be used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten – Grade 3 | $8,336 | Up to $8,336 | May be applied toward tuition and fees |
| Grade 4 – Grade 8 | $7,752 | Up to $7,752 | May be applied toward tuition and fees |
How to read these numbers. The allotment shown is set each year by the Florida Legislature and is based on the student’s county of residence as listed on the scholarship application — the figures above are the 2026–27 Polk County amounts. It is not set or controlled by Winter Haven Adventist Academy. Scholarship funds may be applied toward WHAA tuition and fees once the application is approved and the student is enrolled. Families may apply at any time; admissions applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
How Step Up For Students covers WHAA tuition
Step Up For Students administers Florida’s Private School Scholarship through two programs — the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES–EO). Both pay tuition and fees at an eligible private school such as WHAA.
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Apply to Step Up For Students
Create an account and complete the FTC or FES–EO application. Applications are free, and there is no household income limit — any Florida resident eligible to enroll in a K–12 public school may apply. Renewing families and lower-income households are funded first.
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Direct the award to Winter Haven Adventist Academy
Once your student is confirmed, select WHAA in the Step Up portal. WHAA is an eligible private school and accepts Step Up For Students awards.
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Enroll and direct your scholarship funds
WHAA bills the scholarship directly, and scholarship funds are applied toward tuition and fees as approved by Step Up For Students. Any funds remaining after tuition and fees stay in the family’s education savings account and may be used for other approved expenses, as determined by Step Up For Students.
What Step Up For Students funds may be used for
Step Up For Students — not WHAA — determines which expenses are approved under its programs. Scholarship funds may be used for:
Tuition and fees at WHAA
- Tuition for Kindergarten through 8th grade
- Required school fees charged by WHAA
Additional approved expenses, through the family’s education savings account
- Instructional materials and curriculum
- Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced tests and other assessments
- Contracted services provided by a public school or school district
- Tuition as a private-pay student at Florida Virtual School
- Fees for a Choice Navigator service
- Tuition for full-time or part-time study at an eligible postsecondary institution or approved apprenticeship program
Expense categories as published by Step Up For Students.
Who qualifies for a Step Up scholarship
Florida’s scholarship program is open to all students, regardless of household income, who are Florida residents and eligible to enroll in a K–12 public school. Awards are prioritized in this order:
- Students renewing a Private School Scholarship (FTC or FES–EO)
- Students whose household income does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty level, or who are in foster or out-of-home care
- Students whose household income falls between 185% and 400% of the federal poverty level
Students with unique abilities: a separate Step Up program, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES–UA), may also be directed to WHAA and is funded at a different level. WHAA accepts it. Review the options before you apply — Florida law permits only one active scholarship application per student at a time.
Frequently asked questions about tuition at WHAA
How much is tuition at Winter Haven Adventist Academy for 2026–27?
Tuition and fees for the 2026–27 school year are $8,336 for Kindergarten through Grade 3 and $7,752 for Grades 4 through 8, per student per year. The 2026–27 Step Up For Students allotment for a Polk County resident is the same amount, and scholarship funds may be applied toward these tuition and fee amounts.
Does WHAA accept Step Up For Students scholarships?
Yes. WHAA is an eligible private school and accepts the Family Empowerment Scholarships administered by Step Up For Students, including the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES–EO). WHAA also accepts the AAA Scholarship Foundation award.
Will scholarship funds cover my entire tuition bill?
Step Up For Students scholarship funds may be applied toward WHAA tuition and fees, and for 2026–27 the Polk County allotment matches WHAA’s published tuition for each K–8 grade band. Because allotments are set annually by the State of Florida and WHAA reviews tuition and fees each year, WHAA cannot guarantee that scholarship funds will equal the full amount billed in any year. Any balance not covered by a scholarship is the family’s responsibility. Families should confirm their own allotment in the Step Up For Students portal.
Why are the amounts different for Kindergarten through Grade 3 and Grades 4 through 8?
Step Up For Students publishes a separate allotment for each grade band and each Florida county, because the State of Florida funds the scholarship at a per-student level that varies by grade. For 2026–27 in Polk County, the allotment is $8,336 for grades K–3 and $7,752 for grades 4–8. Winter Haven Adventist Academy does not set these amounts.
Does the scholarship amount depend on where we live?
Yes. The award is based on the student’s county of residence as listed on the 2026–27 scholarship application. The figures on this page are the Polk County amounts, which is where Winter Haven Adventist Academy is located.
Is there an income limit to qualify?
No. Florida’s scholarship program is open to all students regardless of household income who are Florida residents and eligible to enroll in a K–12 public school. Income determines the order in which applications are funded, not whether a student may apply.
What grades does Winter Haven Adventist Academy serve?
WHAA serves PreK through 8th grade on campus, with the tuition rates on this page covering Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school is a private, faith-based, co-educational day school affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist network.
Can scholarship funds pay for anything besides tuition?
Yes, subject to the program rules set by Step Up For Students. Once tuition and fees are paid, any remaining funds stay in the family’s education savings account and may be used for approved expenses such as instructional materials, curriculum, standardized testing fees, and other eligible services.
Will these amounts stay the same in future school years?
They may not. Step Up For Students allotments are set each year by the Florida Legislature and can rise or fall, and WHAA reviews tuition and fees annually. The figures on this page apply to the 2026–27 school year only. Families should confirm current tuition and fees with the school office, and their own allotment in the Step Up For Students portal, before making financial decisions.
When should we apply?
As early as possible. Step Up For Students funds applications in priority order, and an award is only paid after the application is approved and the student is enrolled at WHAA. WHAA reviews admissions applications on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. Start with the WHAA application and the scholarship links page.
Important information about scholarship amounts and school costs
- Scholarship amounts are set by the State of Florida. Step Up For Students allotments are established each year by the Florida Legislature and are based on the student’s county of residence and grade band. Winter Haven Adventist Academy does not set, calculate, or control these amounts and cannot guarantee an amount for any future school year.
- WHAA tuition and fees are reviewed annually. The rates published on this page apply to the 2026–27 school year. Tuition and fees may change in future years.
- Scholarship funds may be applied toward approved expenses. Which expenses are approved is determined by Step Up For Students under its program rules — not by WHAA.
- Any balance is the family’s responsibility. If the scholarship funds available to a student are less than the amount billed, the family is responsible for the difference.
- Eligibility and funding decisions are not made by WHAA. Approval, funding amounts, and timing rest with Step Up For Students and the State of Florida. WHAA’s role is to accept scholarship funds and apply them toward the student’s account.
- Please confirm your own numbers. Families should verify their student’s allotment in the Step Up For Students portal and confirm current tuition and fees with the school office before making financial decisions.
Ready to enroll, or need help with the numbers?
Start your application, or call the school office at (863) 299-7984 and we will walk you through the scholarship process step by step. You can also email [email protected].
Winter Haven Adventist Academy · 401 Ave. K SE, Winter Haven, FL 33880 · Mailing: PO Box 7169, Winter Haven, FL 33883-7169